Petunia plant named ‘Pethorove’

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant named ‘Pethorove’ particularly distinguished by its trailing, outwardly spreading plant habit, strong branching habit, floriferous habit, its single flowers that are pink colored with strong colored veins, and its good garden performance.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Petunia hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Pethorove’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pethorove’.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The new Petunia cultivar has a trailing and spreading plant habit, and big flowers with strong colored veins.

The new Petunia originated from a cross between a Petunia hybrida seedling selection as the female, or seed, parent identified as ‘C4431-1’, and a Petunia hybrida seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent identified as ‘A0971-1’. This cross was made in August 2003. The new Petunia was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Enkhuizen, The Netherlands since August 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pethorove.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pethorove’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Spreading plant habit.     -   2. Strong branching.     -   3. Floriferous.     -   4. Pink flower color with strong colored vein.     -   5. Very strong heat tolerance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have a stronger heat tolerance than         plants of the female parent.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more branched than plants of         the female parent.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower veins of the new Petunia are stronger coloured than         flower veins of the male parent.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are earlier flowering than plants         of the male parent.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘PETHOROVE’ AND A SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘PETROWHI’ ‘Petrowhi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. ‘Pethorove’ No. 17,289) Venation in flower Clearly visible Hardly visible Heat tolerance Very strong (foliage stays Weak (foliage turns green under hot conditions) yellow under hot conditions) Color of flower throat Dark rose White

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The observations and measurements describe plants grown in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in week 23, 2008 in hanging baskets on the trial field in Enkhuizen, on plants of approximately 13 weeks old.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification — botanical.—Petunia hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Petunia hybrida selection ‘C4431-1’, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Petunia hybrida selection ‘A0971-1’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—7 days.         -   Time to develop roots.—14 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely rooting. -   Plant description:     -   -   Shape.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially             upright, later on more trailing and outwardly spreading.             Strong branching habit; about six basal branches each with 6             to 12 lateral branches. Pinching enhances development of             lateral branches.         -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio             containers and landscape applications.         -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—18 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—50 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: 25 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Internode             length: 2 cm. Texture: Canescent. Color: 144A. -   The foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate, sessile, simple.         -   Length.—6 cm.         -   Width.—2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire, slightly ciliated.         -   Texture, upper and lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.             Fully expanded foliage, Upper surface: 147A. Venation upper             surface: 146A. Lower surface: 146B. Venation lower surface:             146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 1 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm. Color, upper and             lower surface: 146C. Texture: Pubescent. -   The flower:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single funnel-shaped flowers,             slightly rotate. Flowers face mostly upward and outward;             axillary. Floriferous habit, three to five open flowers and             about three flower buds per lateral branch at a time.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from spring             until frost in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—5 days.         -   Fragrance.—Strong.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: 6.5 cm. Tube length: 3 cm. Throat             diameter, distal end: 1.3 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: 3             mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: 5 cm. Diameter: 7 mm. Shape: Elongated             oblong with ruffled apices. Color: 146D; at apex 72A with             veins 148A.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five petals fused in a single             whorl, funnel shaped, slightly rotate. Width: 3 cm. Shape:             Spatulate. Apex: Rounded to acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surface: Smooth, velvety. Color When             opening, upper surface: 67A, veins N199A. When opening,             lower surface: 67A, veins N199A. Fully opened, upper             surface: 67B, veins 67A. Fully opened, lower surface: 67B,             veins 137C. Flower throat (inside): 70B, veins N199A. Flower             tube (outside): 67D, veins 137C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, rotate shape. Length: 2.3 cm. Width: 0.3 cm.             Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Ciliated. Texture,             upper and lower surface: Puberulous. Color, upper surface:             137A. Color, lower surface: 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 4 cm. Width: 1–1.5 mm. Angle: 45° to 90°             from the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture: Puberulous. Color:             146B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens, quantity per flower.—5.         -   Anther shape.—Two-parted, round, ends fused.         -   Anther length.—About 3 mm.         -   Anther diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Anther color.—159D.         -   Pollen amount.—Large.         -   Pollen color.—159D.         -   Pistils, quantity per flower.—1.         -   Pistil length.—2.4 cm.         -   Style length.—2.2 cm.         -   Style color.—143C.         -   Stigma shape.—Ovate.         -   Stigma color.—143C.         -   Ovary color.—143C. -   Seed development: Seed development and/or fruit production has not     been observed to date. -   Disease and pest resistance: No disease and pest resistance has been     observed to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance. They have been noted to tolerate rain,     wind and temperatures from 2 to 39 degrees C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Pethorove’, as substantially illustrated and described herein. 